Scientists from the University of Kyoto have created an experimental drug that helps the body get rid of pathological cells on its own. The results of the study were published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
The new medicine is called Crunch (connecting to unwanted mobile environment). It contains a protein that uses the body's natural "cleaning" mechanism. The medicine activates the fagocytes, the immune cells, which absorbs billions of dead cells every day.
Researchers have changed this process so that the immune system can remove not only "dead" (dysfunctional) cells, but also live pathological cells, such as cancer cells or autoimmune diseases.
According to scientists, Crunch acts as a "label". It does not directly destroy the cells, but connects to certain proteins on their surface and transmits a signal to fags. They recognize the cell as unnecessary and absorb it. Thanks to the built-in sensor, protein can be "rebounded" to recognize different types of cells, which makes the platform versatile.
"We used the body's natural system to remove cell balances and reorganized it to fight live cells, which should not be there," said the first author of the study Yuki Yamato.
The scientists added that the drug can be adapted for car-t cancer therapy. This innovative method aims to change the patient's own T-Lymphocytes (immune cells) and specially destroyed a certain type of tumor cells.
Translation of: Euromedia24.com
